Stevens cleared of Bangladesh corruption charges

Kent all-rounder Darren Stevens hopes to continue his career after announcing on Wednesday he had been cleared of corruption charges in Bangladesh.In August, the Englishman was charged with failing to report a corrupt approach to participate in match-fixing while playing for the Dhaka Gladiators in the 2013 Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 competition.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of a five-year suspension from cricket and had Stevens been found guilty, it would have almost certainly ended the 37-year-old's professional career.

However, Stevens again insisted on Wednesday he had never been party to any corruption, telling English county Kent's website: "I can assure all of the fans of the Dhaka Gladiators, the people of Bangladesh and all cricket followers, that I have always played the game of cricket honestly, with integrity and to the best of my ability."I have loved playing cricket in Bangladesh, as well as everywhere else in the world and I hope that I will be allowed to continue to play cricket globally."Kent chief executive Jamie Clifford added:

"I speak for all at Kent when I say that I am delighted for Darren that this verdict was reached. "All Kent supporters will wish him well of course and we all look forward to his return to Kent colours at the start of the 2014 season."

Stevens was one of nine people who were charged with violating the Bangladesh Cricket Board's anti-corruption code.

In June last year, former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful, made a tearful confession to match-fixing on national television after being quizzed by International Cricket Council officials. He was allegedly involved in fixing a match between the Dhaka Gladiators and the Chittagong Kings during the second edition of the BPL in 2013.